1
as in front
being at or in the forward part or surface of something
the anterior chamber of the eye is bounded in front by the cornea
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in previous
going before another in time or order
fossils from an anterior geologic age
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anterior
The anterior cingulate cortex, or ACC, is a part of the brain involved in higher-level thinking and emotional processing.
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Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
When the deep stabilizing muscles of the shoulder, such as the lower trapezius, serratus anterior and rotator cuff, aren’t firing properly, larger muscles such as the upper trapezius (located at the side of the neck and top of the back) and pectoralis major (upper chest) tend to take over.
—Dana Santas, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025
This includes checking for something called an anterior drawer sign.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Each muscle is responsible for a different movement: the anterior auricular muscle pulls the ear forward, the superior auricular muscle lifts it slightly, and the posterior auricular muscle pulls it backward.
—Clarissa Brincat, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anterior
Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
When the deep stabilizing muscles of the shoulder, such as the lower trapezius, serratus anterior and rotator cuff, aren’t firing properly, larger muscles such as the upper trapezius (located at the side of the neck and top of the back) and pectoralis major (upper chest) tend to take over.
—Dana Santas, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025
This includes checking for something called an anterior drawer sign.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Each muscle is responsible for a different movement: the anterior auricular muscle pulls the ear forward, the superior auricular muscle lifts it slightly, and the posterior auricular muscle pulls it backward.
—Clarissa Brincat, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anterior
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anterior
Adjective
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So, after barely a month on the job, Posey expressed a resolve to redecorate the clubhouse — beginning with the office space adjacent to the front door that had been converted to a hub for the analytics staff.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
8 June 2025
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This voting influences whether a post appears on the subreddit’s front page or is more obscurely placed.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
8 June 2025
Adjective
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Garcia’s arrival looks likely to mean consequences for Barca’s previous first-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen — and already the drum-beat of rumour, speculation and comment from friendly local media, aimed at persuading Ter Stegen to leave, has begun.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
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Maurice felt bad for Nosek over his costly mistake, noting his line had been instrumental in the previous series win over Toronto.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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The lack of frontal systems moving consistently further south, in combination with warmer temperatures accelerating evaporation haven’t helped.—
Ryan Rossi,
Sun Sentinel,
27 May 2025
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There’s traction alopecia, which happens when repeated physical pulling on the hair causes damage, usually along the frontal hairline.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anterior.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anterior. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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